Serena Williams is treating the WTA Championships much like she did the regular WTA season — like her personal beatdown tour that is quickly coming to an end.
ADHEREL
On Thursday Williams moved to within two matches of ending the season definitively on top, defeating Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-3 to move to 3-0 in round robin play and secure a semifinal berth.

“I’m just glad to still be alive in the tournament — I didn’t have any expectations coming here, I just wanted to come here and enjoy myself, and that’s what I’ve done,” said the humble world No. 1. “It just feels good to not be out of the tournament.”

Kvitova and Angie Kerber can both also advance to the semifinals from the Red Group.

Three players in the White Group — Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and Jelena Jankovic — can still reach the semifinals.

“It’s not easy to play well against Aga — you need to be focused on every point — so that’s what I tried to do,” said Kerber after her first win at the year-end championships in her fifth try. “I was playing very well from the first point to the last and I’m really happy with how I played. I’m feeling very good about my game and I hope I can continue like this tomorrow.”

On the docket for Friday in Istanbul are Azarenka vs. Na, Kvitova vs. Kerber (winner advancing to the semis), and Sara Errani vs. Jankovic.

As Brando said the other day ill probably be heckled for this comment but here goes,personally ive always found it hard to take RR seriously in sport,tennis,football or otherwise,the idea that a player can lose two games like Kvitova has this week(i believe),and actually still make the final,and possibly win the title,and Kerber who won two matches(again i believe),and still be eliminated,is something that i have a hard time taking seriously,and im not saying this as a sour graping Rafa fan whos p*ssed because he has not won it,as i would love him to win it given its significance yada yada,but just an overall generalisation,i hate RRs JMO.

Hopefully Li Na can play as well as she has all week and make a match of it against Serena tomorrow,Serena was not at her best and still managed to come through,great to see JJ playing so well again and back in the top 10,she played as well as anyone can,shame she couldnt take advantage of the Serena lapses.